Even the most exquisite cars can appear underwhelming when they’re unkempt, poorly maintained, or give the impression of neglect. That’s never how a discerning driver, an enthusiast, or anyone who values their vehicle would present it. While maintaining a car’s pristine appearance may seem like a daunting task, the real barrier is often just mental hesitation. Once you begin, you’ll likely find it far easier than expected to keep your vehicle looking its best.
Don’t worry, we’re not going to sell you some spiritual idea that believing your car looks good makes it automatically first-class, though ignorance is said to be bliss. Instead, we’ll talk about a real problem, the lack of initiative.
Most of us are guilty of not taking care of our cars as well as we should and, unfortunately, as well as we can. We’ve heard some terrible confessions as a car bodyshop, but no judgement, of course. We’ve all got our struggles. Procuring the right tools and things is the easy part; actually doing the work is the tough part. The daily survival of life does get in the way, but we encourage everyone to take the time to maintain their pride and joy.
It is a mental battle more than a physical one. Leave that procrastination behind.
Alright, let’s actually dish out some ways of maintaining your vehicle in top condition.
Boring, generic advice one hears everywhere by car guys and on online forums, but the reason why it’s regurgitated so often is because it is true. The car is a victim of a ton of abuse. No one is merciful to a car’s exterior or interior. Friends who show up with dirty shoes? Birds that practice target and are surprisingly accurate? Just some random trees deciding to throw down all their fruits on your car in particular? Happens to the best of us.
Regularly washing your car goes a long way to maintaining its paint’s charm, as nothing has the time to really seep underneath and damage the paint. However, you need to wash your car the right way:
Waxing never ceased to be relevant. Despite the fact that it is now, for whatever reason, considered old school, it is one of the simplest yet most effective ways of protecting your car’s paint. The sun’s UV rays are brutal, so are road grime and water spots. A good wax, applied properly, becomes essentially a layer of protection against all of these menaces.
That’s just the protection part. Wax actually gives your car that glossy, first-class finish found on cars on the showroom floor. So, aim to wax your car every 2–3 months.
It might seem easy to focus primarily on what’s on the outside, that’s what most people are going to see anyway. However, that’s not the case for you, the owner. Most of your time will be spent inside the vehicle. A car that is “showroom condition” often feels that way not because of the shiny exterior (of course, that too) but a combination of how well both the interior and exterior are maintained.
Interiors go through abuse of their own. Sure, no bugs at 100 km/h are hitting them, but the lads spilling their nachos and sauce? A cup of coffee? Those stains are tough to see and, unfortunately, tough to get rid of.
Leather conditioner, fabric protectant, and regular vacuuming go a long way in maintaining that just-detailed feel. Small things like sunshades can also help protect your dashboard and upholstery from sun damage.
However, interior cleaning is far more difficult and intensive than other things. So, consider professional cleaning through an authorised car body repair centre like GVE London.
With all that said above, sometimes it is necessary to take your vehicle to a car bodyshop for a deep and thorough cleaning. And not just the first place Google Maps throws out, you need to choose one carefully. There’s a real difference between a generic repair place and a trusted car bodyshop that knows what they’re doing. Especially if you drive something a little more premium than average.
In order to allow your car to age gracefully, you will have to take care of it throughout its life. Book that wash. Fix the dent. Get the wax. Visit that car bodyshop. The first-class finish doesn’t come cheap; it requires real effort and actual care.
